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Southern Cabbageworm – Pontia protodice

Written by Amisha on .

Southern Cabbageworm – Pontia protodice Common Name: Southern Cabbageworm Latin Name: Pontia protodice Appearance:  The Southern Cabbageworm, formally known as Pontia protodice, is a different butterfly species with distinguishing features. Adult Southern Cabbageworms have wingspan of 1.5 to 2.5 inches. Their wings are mostly white, with varied black patterns and greyish veins. A single black dot is frequently found on the top side of each forewing, making identification easier. Host Plant:  These butterflies mostly feed on cruciferous vegetables. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), broccoli, cauliflower, and other Brassicaceae family vegetables are common hosts. Southern Cabbageworm larvae are voracious eaters on these plants, making them a significant problem in agricultural contexts. Territory: Southeastern Cabbageworms live in a wide area and do best in warm, temperate climates. They are most common in the southern parts of North America, but you can also find them in some parts of the United States. Damages caused by Southern Cabbageworm: Several types of green plants are seriously hurt by the Southern Cabbageworm’s eggs, which are like caterpillars. These hungry eaters hurt the host plants by eating their leaves, stems, and flower buds that are just starting to grow. Heavy infestations can lower crop output, which can lower the quality and market worth of the food as a whole.    Life History of the Southern Cabbageworm): The Southern Cabbageworm’s life history is divided into different stages that show the amazing change from an egg to a butterfly. Egg:
  • Female butterflies put small, round eggs on the undersides of the leaves of host plants.
  • Eggs start pale yellow and turn orange over time before they hatch.
Larvae:
  • Larvae hatch and start eating host plants as soon as they come out.
  • Caterpillars go through several instars, and as they grow, they shed their skin.
  • Their aggressive eating habits do a lot of damage to Brassica plants.
Pupal:
  • Fully grown caterpillars pupate by attaching themselves to a substrate.
  • As the caterpillar changes into a butterfly, the chrysalis, also known as the pupa, forms.
  • The growth of adult features happens during transformation in the chrysalis.
Adult:
  • The Southern Cabbageworm butterfly comes out of its cocoon as an adult.
  • The adults have white wings with black spots that make them stand out. Their length is 1.5 to 2.5 inches.
  • When they are fully grown, they start reproducing, which keeps the life cycle going.
Habitat: The Southern Cabbageworm’s place of residence is closely connected to the presence of the plants that it likes to eat, mostly green vegetables. Important parts of their environment are: Clostrid plants like cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower grow well in farming areas where southern cabbageworms thrive. Home gardens and other horticultural areas are good places for them to live, especially if they have cruciferous veggies.